The Wyoming Cowboys wrestling team began their season this past weekend with a duel against No. 7 Nebraska and then held the Cowboy Open wrestling tournament. Wyoming lost to Nebraska with a score of 22-13 and had two first place finishes in the Cowboy Open tournament. The first match of the season was heavy weights where Senior Leland Pfeifer lost to Nebraska’s Collin Jensen in points with a score of 6-1. The next match improved for Wyoming with Senior Tyler Cox beating No. 11 Tim Lambert by a 7-4 decision. Cox had two escapes and two takedown which ultimately gave him the win. Wyoming then lost its next two matches, one by decision and the next by major decision, but answered back with a tough win by Sophomore Jake Elliot to bring the score to 10-6 Nebraska. Cowboys head coach Mark Branch said, “Elliott, in his opportun
ities last year, looked overwhelmed in that starting role. I didn’t know what I was going to see when he came out (Friday) but he came out and wrestled smart. He didn’t wrestle his best match but he showed poise and toughness and heart. I’m proud of Jake.” Wyoming lost its next three matches. Wyoming got wins out of Sophomore Benjamin Stroh and Senior Shane Woods but it was not enough to beat Nebraska. Wyoming lost 22-13 to the No. 7 Cornhuskers. Coach Branch said after the match, “I was disappointed with some of our demeanor in matches, I was disappointed with how we wrestled on bottom. That’s not a technique thing. To kind of just lay there on bottom … It’s gut-check time for our guys to understand that’s not how we wrestle here.” On Saturday, Wyoming held the Cowboy Open wresting tournament where they had two fist place finishes, five second place finishes, and three second place finishes. Tyler Cox went 2-0 in the 125-pound elite bracket and was the only Cowboy to place first in an elite bracket. He beat Trey Andrews from Northern Colorado in his first match and Tim Lambert from Nebraska, who he beat the day before. Coach Branch said of Cox’s performance, “It was a tough situation, battling Nebraska (on Friday) and coming in today and having to make weight two days in a row. I’m proud of Tyler, finishing out with his last Cowboy Open title. We have a lot to work on, but I didn’t see guys dropping their heads.” Freshman P.T. Garcia went 4-0 in the 133-pound amateur bracket and took home first place in it. Wyoming will wrestle again on Sat Nov. 15, at 5:30 p.m. where they will host the No.1 Minnesota Gophers in Laramie at the UniWyo Sports Complex.
